The Judgement Of Hammurabi Research Paper
The Judgments of Hammurabi The document about Hammurabi's Code explains the rules and freedoms the law gives to women of this time period. Hammurabi was chosen as governor of men in order to establish laws for the good of his people. Although he claims to be instituting the best laws for his people, he seems to forget the equality of men and women. He declares, "to promote the welfare of the people...to cause justice to prevail in the land, to destroy the wicked and the evil, that the strong might not oppress the weak" (A&O, p. 14) as his logic for these laws. Hammurabi's Code does not give women full freedom when it comes to marriage, a man's imprisonment, and her family. In the code, Hammurabi speaks of many circumstances in which women
must do what is best suited for their husband. A prime example occurs in law 148, "If a man has married a wife, and sickness has seized her, and he has decided to marry another, he may marry; but his wife whom the sickness has seized he shall not divorce. She shall dwell in the house he has built..." (A&O, p.16). This law is significant because it undermines a man's duty of keeping the love he has for his wife in sickness and in health. The woman did not choose to become ill, so the man should not have the choice of whether or not he shall continue to provide love for her. Although the woman is still being physically supported with a roof over her head, she is not being supported with the love and kindness that she deserves. As it is apparent, women did not have much freedom when it comes to Hammurabi's Code. The Code also states that if a man has been taken prisoner, his spouse may be with another man until he returns from jail and regains his city. Then she must return and be with her spouse yet again (A&O, p. 15). This law is degrading for women in the sense that she must stay with her husband even after he has been sentenced to imprisonment. A woman should not be forced to stay with a man after he commits a felony. The code explains that a woman is more or less inferior to her spouse. Hammurabi also declares, "If a man has contracted a debt, and has given his wife, his son, his daughter for silver or for labor, three years they shall serve in the house of their purchaser..." (A&O, p. 15). Such code should not be allowed. This law takes away not only a woman's freedom, but her family's freedom as well. A woman and her family being punished for the debt of her husband is immoral.. It is quite irrational to oblige a woman and her family to work in order to regain their family's wealth. A woman being forced to fulfill a certain role for her husband or his wrong doings should not be a law, but rather a choice Hammurabi's Code depicts several different topics. He declares rules for property, felony, marriage, and personal injury among other things. Women's freedoms, although not a specific topic in the Code, are the most important. Women's rights were extremely seldom and not taken into account for. The code explains that women have less authority than men, as well as less freedoms. Hammurabi does not permit women to obtain free will when it comes to marriage, a man's imprisonment, and her family. In this day and age, Hammurabi's Code would be carefully deciphered and mediated if it were to ever become substantial law. Women should have been granted more rights and freedom from the start of Hammurabi's Code.
must do what is best suited for their husband. A prime example occurs in law 148, "If a man has married a wife, and sickness has seized her, and he has decided to marry another, he may marry; but his wife whom the sickness has seized he shall not divorce. She shall dwell in the house he has built..." (A&O, p.16). This law is significant because it undermines a man's duty of keeping the love he has for his wife in sickness and in health. The woman did not choose to become ill, so the man should not have the choice of whether or not he shall continue to provide love for her. Although the woman is still being physically supported with a roof over her head, she is not being supported with the love and kindness that she deserves. As it is apparent, women did not have much freedom when it comes to Hammurabi's Code. The Code also states that if a man has been taken prisoner, his spouse may be with another man until he returns from jail and regains his city. Then she must return and be with her spouse yet again (A&O, p. 15). This law is degrading for women in the sense that she must stay with her husband even after he has been sentenced to imprisonment. A woman should not be forced to stay with a man after he commits a felony. The code explains that a woman is more or less inferior to her spouse. Hammurabi also declares, "If a man has contracted a debt, and has given his wife, his son, his daughter for silver or for labor, three years they shall serve in the house of their purchaser..." (A&O, p. 15). Such code should not be allowed. This law takes away not only a woman's freedom, but her family's freedom as well. A woman and her family being punished for the debt of her husband is immoral.. It is quite irrational to oblige a woman and her family to work in order to regain their family's wealth. A woman being forced to fulfill a certain role for her husband or his wrong doings should not be a law, but rather a choice Hammurabi's Code depicts several different topics. He declares rules for property, felony, marriage, and personal injury among other things. Women's freedoms, although not a specific topic in the Code, are the most important. Women's rights were extremely seldom and not taken into account for. The code explains that women have less authority than men, as well as less freedoms. Hammurabi does not permit women to obtain free will when it comes to marriage, a man's imprisonment, and her family. In this day and age, Hammurabi's Code would be carefully deciphered and mediated if it were to ever become substantial law. Women should have been granted more rights and freedom from the start of Hammurabi's Code.